31 Days to Decorate Confidently. Day 29: Decorating on a Budget

Posted on October 29, 2012 by DishOnDesignGal

Decorating is something everyone can do, regardless of your budget…

Decorating and creating a beautiful home is something anyone can do on any budget. Here are some tips for decorating on a budget…

Use what you have. Use the principles you have learned to rearrange your furniture. Look at each room and see what may look better or could serve a better purpose in another area. De-clutter. Add a new wall color and for under $100 your space will feel fresh and new!

Explore DIY options for painting furniture you own or find at a thrift shop. Try no-sew draperies, adding trim to lamps or inexpensive drapes. The ideas are endless. It’s amazing what you can do to freshen up a room with very little money.

Shop at discount stores such as TJ Maxx, Homegoods, Ross, Marshalls and more. When shopping department stores clip coupons and keep your eye out for sales.

Decorate in Layers and do what you can when you can. Beautiful rooms are not created overnight. Wait till you can afford the picture you want… make do with what you have until you can add your dream furniture. As long as you have a plan, it will end up beautiful!

Establish a budget and track expenses as you go. Here’s a link to a free budget form that will automatically calculate your expenses and tell you what you have left to spend.

Assignment: Try to avoid paying full price, without compromising the look you are trying to achieve.

To start at the beginning of the series, click here!

31 Days to Decorate Confidently. Day 26: Hanging Pictures

Posted on October 27, 2012 by DishOnDesignGal

When it comes to hanging pictures and groups of objects it’s helpful to know this…

It’s easy to hang art and objects when you follow these guidelines…

Maintain a relationship with other objects that around the picture such as a sofa, other pictures, a lamp, etc. Never have too much space between objects.

Keep objects at eye level and consider how you can view them when seating in a room. Better to hang lower than too high.

When grouping pictures and objects on a wall, lay them out together on the floor using a shape as a guide for how to arrange them.

Assignment: Explore your inspiration file and magazines for examples of successful wall groupings that are based on shapes.

Enjoy! Amy xo

To start at the beginning of the series, click here!

31 Days to Decorate Confidently. Day 21: Window Coverings

Posted on October 21, 2012 by DishOnDesignGal

Decorating is all about beauty and function… window coverings are no exception!

Successful window treatments are ones that are both beautiful and functional – they work with your lifestyle. Here are some things to consider…

Beauty of course is important when it comes to window treatments, not only for the design aspects of shape and color, but because of the feeling of warmth it can bring to a space.

Function is equally important. Do you want to keep cold air out and warm air in? Do you want to black out a room at night? Do you want privacy, yet still be able to see out? Consider what you expect a window treat to do for you.

Examine your space and decide what are the best window treatments for the room and your decor.

Explore different styles and find one that you love and that fills your requirements for your windows.

Assignment: Look through your inspiration file and magazines for ideas for window coverings. Visit a retail store with assorted window treatments and store an ask a window covering specialist about different options available for your room.

To start at the beginning of the series, click here!

31 Days to Decorate Confidently. Day 19: The Squint Test

Posted on October 19, 2012 by DishOnDesignGal

Yesterday we talked about selecting a color scheme, but how do you know everything matches? It’s easy when you use the squint test…

To ensure that color selections work together start by laying out paint chips and other samples or items that you have accumulated to use in your room.

Stand back and squint as you look at the colors and materials you’ve laid out. If they all blend when squinting – perfect! If one (or more) stands out above the rest, consider something else… it’s not the best choice! The goal is for everything to blend when squinting.

Create a color board with paint chips and samples of you final selections by gluing them to a board or inside of a file. Take this with you when shopping for your project for reference.

Assignment: Make a color board for the room your are decorating.

Have fun! Amy xo

Want to start at the beginning of the series? Click here!

31 Days to Decorate Confidently. Day 17: Color Psychology Part 2

Posted on October 17, 2012 by DishOnDesignGal

Color Psychology is used almost everywhere you go, you just probably haven’t noticed…

Have you ever noticed that restaurants almost always use warm colors such as orange, yellow and red? It’s because they are known to make you hungry!

Think about typical room decor in warm or cool climates… You’ll see lots of cool colors such as soft blues and greens at the beach, yet warm toasty colors at a ski lodge.

Large Corporations may use paint to mentally warm a space or cool it down so thermostats can be lowered in the winter and raised in the summer, ultimately saving on energy costs. They may also use bright colors to stimulate workers or soothing ones to calm clients.

Some places try to influence your mood… Pink is perceived to make you feel relaxed and even weaker. Former Iowa Football coach Hayden Fry made the visting team’s locker room entirely pink – toilets and all. After a remodel by Coach Ferentz, there’s even more pink including the walls, toilets, sinks, lockers, floors and more!

Assignment: Take time to observe the spaces you are in and become aware of how color affects you!

To start at the beginning of the series, click here!

31 Days to Decorate Confidently. Day 12: Exploring Ceilings

Posted on October 12, 2012 by DishOnDesignGal

Often the forgotten surface, ceilings are an opportunity to introduce interesting design elements and add extra dimension to a room…

Think outside the box and explore the unlimited possibilities for your Ceilings.

Options for ceilings include faux paint, texture, medallions, beams, wallpaper, wood and so much more!

Consider the interest that it will add to the room. Design elements added to the ceiling add interest to any space.

Assignment: Like yesterday, explore magazines and internet sites such as pinterest, houzz, decorating blogs and other internet sites for ideas you may never have considered. Add any ideas you love to your inspiration folder.

Enjoy! Amy xo

Want to start at the beginning? Click here!

31 Days to Decorate Confidently. Day 4: Beauty and Function

Posted on October 3, 2012 by DishOnDesignGal

Beautiful decorating is not just another pretty face…

Interior Decorating to many people is about creating beautiful rooms, but what decorators know is it’s really about creating beautiful functional rooms that fit the lifestyle of the people who live within.

Beauty is about things that are pleasing to the eye, but when it comes to beautiful interiors it’s also about placement, relationships, size and more. Ultimately, it’s about how things work together in harmony.

Function is achieved when a space supports the activities within. Storage solutions, traffic patterns, entertainment, leisure and more are all considerations when creating a functional room.

Pay attention to both beauty and function and you’ll create a space you LOVE to spend time in.

Assignment: Become more observant. Look at your surroundings wherever you are. Ask your self… are you comfortable? Is this beautiful? How does this make me feel?

Want to start at the beginning of the series? Click here!

10 Tips for a Successful Decorating Project

Posted on June 18, 2012 by DishOnDesignGal

Photo Courtesy of House Beautiful

Ponder this for a few minutes…

I love that quote and it’s so true. Think about it… what makes a house a “home” is what each person uniquely brings to their own space. Every home is different – a reflection of who we are and what we love. Starting a decorating project is often daunting, but it doesn’t have to be – take a breath and enjoy the process. These ten tips will help you create a space you love…

Dream, explore, discover! Take some time to look through magazines, web sites, and newspapers; randomly clipping things that catch your attention. Don’t over think it too much. This will help you find an inspiration picture and ideas you may want to incorporate. Don’t be so sure that you and your spouse, partner or roommate are worlds apart. Designing for the sexes is not always as hard as you think!
Know your space. Whether reading a floor plan or drawing your own floor plan, understand your room. How does it feel? How do you want it to feel? What will you do in this room? You can have beauty and function in every room!
Develop a plan. Look at your house as a whole and then break down each area. Whether doing a single room or a whole house; this is important. Set a budget and priorities. Inventory the items you own that you will keep, and create a wish list of what you’d like to put in each room.
Get Organized! Keeping your project organized will save you time and energy. Keep everything in one place so you can grab it for shopping, meeting with contractors and finalizing selections.
Pick a starting point. Whether an inspiration picture, a piece of art, furniture that you love, or a favorite paint color; choose it and go from there. Still overwhelmed? Select the finishes for walls and floors and then work on the focal point or area of the room and spread out from there.
Don’t be afraid – especially of color! Everyone makes mistakes, (even the professionals!) but you’ll never know if you like it if you don’t try it. The biggest fear for many is picking paint and matching colors. When using the age-old “squint test” it’s easy! Click for more about the squint test.
Furniture. Arranging furniture shouldn’t overwhelm you. With a floor plan and some “rules-of-thumb” you’ll save your back and discover that arranging furniture is fun!
Remember ceiling! We all know we need to think about the floors and walls, but often forgotten is the ceiling. Ceiling details are a great way to add special touches and character to a room.
Lighting. This is key element of every space that is often forgotten. There is day-to-day lighting, task lighting, accent lighting are equally important a room that both functional and beautiful. Lighting can make or break a room.
Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Often neglected or eliminated because of budget, accessories are ever so important. They define the personality of the room. Plant ledges, mantles, tabletops, etc. are key places to create interest and tell the story of your home. Approximately 15-25% of your room budget should go towards accessories – this is not the place to negotiate.